Tact

Also: Discretion

Tact means being discriminating about what we say. It means that before we speak we consider the effect on other people and we choose our words wisely and well.

Tact is what allows us to honor both honesty and compassion in difficult conversations. It lets us speak truth in ways that other people are able to hear without becoming too threatened or hurt. To be tactful means choosing our timing as well as our words. Tact requires that we put ourselves in another person’s place and think about their circumstances and feelings.